Properties of polyphenol oxidase in mango (Mangifera indica) kernel

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of filtered extract of ground mango kernel suspension (400 g litre⁻¹) was studied spectrophotometrically at 420 nm using catechol as substrate. The enzyme was most active at pH 6·0 and 25°C. Activity was reduced by 50% at pH values of 5·0 and 7·1, and also at temperatures of 14°C and 30°C. The calculated activation energy and the Michaelis constant (K_m) were 21·4 kcal mol⁻¹ °C⁻¹ and 24·6 mM , respectively. The V_max value was 2·14 units g⁻¹ mango kernel. The time to heat inactivate PPO decreased rapidly to < 10 min with increasing temperature of ⩾ 70°C at 50% activity. © 1998 SCI.     

Partial purification and characterization of polyphenoloxidase from peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) of peppermint leaves ( Mentha piperita) was isolated by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation and dialysis. Its pH and temperature optima were 7.0 and 30°C, respectively. On heat-inactivation, half of the activity was lost after 6.5 and 1.5 min of treatment at 70 and 80°C, respectively. Sucrose, (NH₄)₂SO₄, NaCl and KCl appeared to be protective agents of peppermint PPO against thermal denaturation. Km of this enzyme ranged from 6.25×10⁻³ M with catechol to 9.00×10⁻³ M with L-dopa. The I₅₀ values of inhibitors studied on PPO were determined by means of activity percentage (I) diagrams. Values were 1.4×10⁻⁴ M, 1.7×10⁻⁴ M, 9.7×10⁻⁵ M, 2.45×10⁻⁴ M, 2.16×10⁻¹ M, 1.83×10⁻⁵ M, 6.5×10⁻⁵ M, 1.4×10⁻² M, 7.5×10⁻⁵ M, for potassium cyanide, glutathione, ascorbic acid, thiourea, sodium azide, sodium metabisulfite, dithioerythritol, β-mercaptoethanol and sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate respectively. Therefore, sodium metabisulfite was the most effective inhibitor.     

Maillard Reaction in Microwave Cooking: Comparison of Early Maillard Products in Conventionally and Microwave-Heated Milk

The impact of microwave cooking on the formation of early Maillard products was investigated and compared with the effect of conventional cooking, using milk as a test system. Experiments were carried out at controlled temperatures of 80°C and 90°C, respectively, at holding times up to 420min. Furosine, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and lactulose, which are all established indicators to estimate heat damage, were determined. The concentrations of all the heating indicators increased with increasing heating time. For example in the 90°C test series the furosine values rose from 34mglitre⁻¹ (0·5h) to 94mglitre⁻¹ (2h holding time) in the milk heated by microwaves and from 35mglitre⁻¹ (0·5h) to 96mg litre⁻¹ (2h) in the conventionally heated milk. None of the reaction products showed significant differences as between the microwave heating and conventional cooking methods.     

Degradation Kinetics of Anthocyanin in Blueberry Juice during Thermal Treatment

ABSTRACT: The kinetics of anthocyanin degradation in blueberry juice during thermal treatment at 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C were investigated in the present study. Anthocyanin degradation was analyzed up to the level of 50% retention using a pH differential method. The degradation of anthocyanin at each temperature level followed a first-order kinetic model, and the values of half-life time (t_1/2) at temperatures of 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C were found to be 180.5, 42.3, 25.3, 8.6, and 5.1 h, respectively. The activation energy value of the degradation of the 8.9 ° Brix blueberry juice during heating was 80.4 kJ·mol⁻¹. The thermodynamic functions of activation (ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS) have been determined as central to understanding blueberry degradation.     

Thermal conductivity of tomato paste

Experimental measurements of the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of tomato paste at concentrations of 27–44° Brix are reported. The thermal conductivity was measured in a guarded hot-plate apparatus while the diffusivity was estimated by a simplified transient method. The thermal conductivity (λ) values fell in the region of 0·460–0·660 W m^?1 K^?1, decreasing with increasing solids concentration and increasing as the temperature was raised from 30 to 50°C. The temperature effect was less pronounced at higher solids concentration. The thermal diffusivity of tomato paste at 35° Brix and 20°C was estimated as 1·42 × 10^?7 m² s^?1, which is in good agreement with data from the steady-state method.     

Influence of Water Activity on the Nonenzymatic Browning of Apple Juice Concentrate during Storage

Highly concentrated clarified apple juice was kept in storage at 37°C over a period of 100 days. The soluble solids content ranged from 65–90.5°Brix. Color development was monitored as O.D. at 420 nm. A maximum nonenzymatic browning rate (NEB_r) was found to occur between water activities 0.53 and 0.55. It was assumed that (1) dilution of reactants was responsible for the browning rate reduction at high water contents white (2) viscosity inhibited the color formation at low water activities. Viscosity ranged from 48 to 1.3 × 10⁶ cp and increased sharply when the commercial levels of concentration (70–72°Brix) were exceeded.     

Mass transfer modelling in ultrasound assisted osmotic dehydration of kiwi fruit

In this study, the effect of ultrasonic pre-treatment on osmotic dehydration of kiwi slices was investigated. Kiwi fruit slices were subjected to ultrasonic pre-treatment in a sonication water bath at a frequency of 25 kHz for 20 min. Osmotic dehydration of ultrasonic pre-treated samples were conducted for a period of 300 min in 60 Brix sucrose solution. The kinetics of moisture loss and solute gain during osmotic dehydration were predicted by fitting the experimental data with Azuara's model and Weibull's model. The effects of ultrasound application on water loss, sugar gain, effective moisture diffusivity and solute diffusivity of the samples were analysed. The osmotic dehydration process showed a rapid initial water loss followed by a progressive decrease in the rates in the later stages. From the Azuara's model, the predicted equilibrium water loss value for ultrasound pre-treated sample was 58.4% (wb) at 60°C that was nearly 16% higher than the samples treated under atmospheric conditions. Fitting of Weibull model showed that the ultrasound pre-treated and untreated samples had shape parameter (β_w) ranging between 0.570–0.616 and 0.677–0.723 respectively. The lower values of shape parameter indicated that sonication caused accelerated water loss resulting faster dehydration rate. Results indicated that the effective moisture diffusivity and solute diffusivity was enhanced in ultrasonic pre-treated samples. The effective moisture diffusivity during osmotic dehydration of ultrasonic pre-treated samples was ranged between 5.460×10⁻¹⁰–7.300×10⁻¹⁰ m²/s and solute diffusivity was varied between 2.925×10⁻¹⁰–3.511×10⁻¹⁰ m²/s within the temperature range 25–60 °C. The enhanced moisture and solute diffusivity in ultrasound pre-treated kiwi slices was due to cell disruption and formation of microscopic channels.     

The fate of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 in Myzithra,Anthotyros, and Manouri whey cheeses during storage at 2 and 12°C

Myzithra, Anthotyros and Manouri whey cheeses were inoculated the day after production withEscherichia coli O157 : H7 at concentrations of approx. 1·8×10⁶cfu g⁻¹, and stored at 2 and 12°C for 30 and 20 days, respectively. The pH of the whey cheeses decreased from an initial value of approx. 6·20 to 5·83 or 5·60 (Myzithra) 5·75 or 5·20 (Anthotyros) and 5·80 or 5·30 (Manouri) by the end of the corresponding storage periods at 2 and 12°C, respectively. Escherichia coli O157 : H7 populations in the whey cheeses at the end of the 12°C storage period, had grown with an increase of approx. 1·3 log₁₀cfu g⁻¹. E. coli O157 : H7 populations in whey cheeses at the end of the 2°C storage period did not grow and decreased, with an approx. 2·5 log₁₀cfu g⁻¹reduction. Results showed that E. coli O157 : H7 can grow at 12°C and survive at 2°C storage in Myzithra, Anthotyros and Manouri whey cheeses, and therefore post-manufacturing contamination with this pathogen must be avoided by employing hygienic control programmes such as HACCP.     

Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Fresh Beansprouts

Freshly harvested beansprouts displayed a respiration rate of about 1 mmol O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 10°C which was strongly dependent on temperature, a 10-fold increase being observed every 16·5°C (z=16·5°C, ie Q₁₀=4·4). This commodity is also characterised by a high initial microbial load (about 10⁷ cells g⁻¹). During storage at various temperatures from 1 to 20°C, oxygen uptake rates dramatically increased with time and this phenomenon was well correlated with the development of aerobic microorganisms which reached 10⁹ cells g⁻¹ after 2 days at 20°C or 9 days at 1°C. Beansprouts were packaged in films, with permeabilities ranging from 950 to 200000 ml O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹, and stored at 8°C. Due to plant and microbial metabolism, oxygen concentrations decreased steadily within all packs until the onset of plant tissue decay. The latter occurred after 5–6 days with the least permeable films but did not occur within when the film permeability was over 100000 ml O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹. However, such films favoured brown discolouration, exudation texture and breakdown. The orientated polypropylene film (OPP) induced anoxic condition within 2 days and favoured anaerobic metabolism and necrosis of the sprouts. In all packages there was a rapid development of aerobic microorganisms and lactic acid bacteria that resulted in the accumulation of acetate and lactate and a decrease in pH. Thus, it clearly appeared that tissue decay was enhanced by microbial activity. At 8°C, 0·24 m² of film per kg of sprouts provided the optimal atmosphere composition (ie 5% oxygen and 15% carbon dioxide) when a film permeability of 50000 ml O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹ was used. These conditions allowed a shelf-life of 4–5 days.     

Degradation Kinetics of Anthocyanins in Sour Cherry Juice and Concentrate

The effects of temperature and soluble solids on degradation of anthocyanins in sour cherry concentrate were determined over temperature ranges (-18 to 37)°and 50 to 80°C. Anthocyanin degradation could be modeled as a first-order rate reaction, with rates of 33.97 × 10^minus;3. hr^minus;1 (15°CBrix), 59.19 × 10^minus;3. hr^minus;1 (45°CBrix) and 97.14 × 10^minus;3. hr^minus;1 (71°CBrix) at 80°C. Temperature dependence of reaction was described by the Arrhenius relationship. Activation energy for a solids content of 15-71°C Brix ranged from 16.37-19.14 kcal.mole^minus;1 with an average of 17.45 kcal.mole^minus;1     

Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Films Incorporated with Nisin: Characterization and Effectiveness against Listeria innocua

ABSTRACT: Biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films incorporated with nisin were prepared with concentrations of 0, 1000, 3000, and 5000 international units per cm² (IU/cm²). All the films with nisin inhibited Listeria innocua, and generated inhibition zones with diameters ranging from 14 to 17 mm. The water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability after the addition of nisin ranged from 3.05 to 3.61 × 10¹¹ g m m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹ and from 4.80 × 10⁷ to 11.26 × 10⁷ mL·m·m⁻²·d⁻¹·Pa⁻¹, respectively. The elongation at break (ɛ_b) was not altered by the incorporation of nisin (P > 0.05). Significant effect was found for the elastic modulus (E) and the tensile strength (σ_s) (P < 0.05). The glass transition and melting temperatures with the presence of nisin ranged from −36.3 to −36.6 °C and from 122.5 to 124.2 °C, respectively. The thermal transition parameters such as the crystallization and melting enthalpies and crystallization temperature were influenced significantly (P < 0.05) by incorporation of nisin into films. The X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited decreasing levels of intensity (counts) as the concentration of nisin increased in a range of 2θ from 8° to 35°. Formation of holes and pores was observed from the environmental scanning electron microscopy images in the films containing nisin, suggesting interaction between PBAT and nisin.     

Kinetic models of non‐enzymatic browning in apple puree

The effects of thermal treatments on 11 °Brix apple puree were studied at temperatures from 80 to 98 °C. Colour changes (measured by reflectance spectroscopy, colour difference, L*, a* and b* and the evolution of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and sugars (hexoses and sucrose) were used to evaluate non‐enzymatic browning. A kinetic model based on a two‐stage mechanism was applied to the evolution of colour difference and a*. A first‐order kinetic model was applied to L* evolution, while the evolution of absorbance at 420 nm (A₄₂₀) of the liquid fraction was described using a zero‐order kinetic model. Thermally treated samples became more reddish and suffered a slight loss of yellow hues. The effect of temperature on the kinetic constants was described by an Arrhenius‐type equation. The presence of pulp in the samples led to activation energies for A₄₂₀ and sucrose which were lower than those found previously for clarified juices with the same soluble solids content. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biochemisch-technologische Studien über die Naßverarbeitung von Mais. 6. Mitteilung. Untersuchung des proteolytischen und lipolytischen Enzymsystems des Maises

Biochemical-Technological Studies on Wet-Processing of Maize. Part 6. Examination of the Proteolytic and the Lipolytic Enzyme System of Maize. 1. Maize lipase shows the following optima: pH-optimum about 8,0, temperature optimum about 40°C. 2. The efficiency of the proteolytic enzymes covers a broad pH-range (2,0–9,0). Efficiency reaches a distinct maximum between pH 3,5 and 4,5 and a weaker maximum at pH 8. Enzymes show high stability (45 °C). For proteolysis of the maize protein temperatures around 40 °C are the optimum. 3. Maize proteases are inactivated by 2 · 10⁻³ M potassium persulfate and 6 · 10⁻⁴ M potassium bromate; 6,5 · 10⁻³ M cysteine doubles activity. 4. SO₂-contents up to 0,1% cause an increase of proteolytic degradation with a maximum at 0,03%.     

EFFECT OF SOLUBLE SOLIDS AND TEMPERATURE ON ASCORBIC ACID DEGRADATION IN LEMON JUICE STORED IN GLASS BOTTLES

Lemon juice at concentrations of 9°, 20°, 30°, 40° and 50°Brix was stored at 10°, 20° and 36°C for 16 weeks and sampled regularly for total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid. No significant differences were found in the first two of these factors as a function of storage time. There was a small but significant decrease in citric acid concentration over 16 weeks. Ascorbic acid loss was greater at higher temperatures; at a constant temperature, the loss was smaller as TSS increased. Ascorbic acid degradation data fitted zero-, first- and second-order models equally well at all five TSS. Rate constants in 9°Brix juice were significantly higher than those for the other four concentrations at all three temperatures. E_a values of 47.8 and 24.1 kJ mol^?1 were calculated for ascorbic acid degradation in 9° and 20°Brix juices. The effect of temperature far outweighed the effect of TSS on ascorbic acid degradation. Over the 16-week storage period, maximum retention of ascorbic acid (95.7%) was obtained in the 50°Brix lemon juice concentrate stored at 10°C.     

The dehydration of paprika with ambient and heated air and the kinetics of colour degradation during storage

The hygroscopic behaviour of dried red pepper is characterized by means of water vapour adsorption isotherms at 5, 20 and 35°C; from the GAB equation, a monolayer water content of 0·0816 kg H₂O per kg dry matter has been deduced. The effect of temperature on the drying rate of pepper is considered and yields are compared when the drying is carried out with ambient air and with different loading densities (10–40 kg m⁻²). The kinetics of paprika colour degradation during storage at different temperatures and with a moisture content corresponding to the monolayer have been studied. A sharp change in the rate of colour loss is observed at 15°C: the value Q₁₀ (°C) changes from 1·62 to 2·82 when the temperature rises above 15°C.     

A new process for preparing transparent alkalised duck egg and its quality

When fresh duck (Anas plotyrhyncus) eggs (pH 8·0–8·5) are heated, their albumen develops a turbid gel. Through appropriate alkalisation (pH 11·5–12·8), the gel's transparency can be increased. The transparency of the heated duck egg-white is affected by pH value, heating temperature, heating rate and salt concentration. This research deals with the process for preparing the transparent alkalised duck egg and the change in its quality when stored. If fresh duck eggs are pickled in a solution of 42 g NaOH+50 g NaCl litre^?1 (25·3°C) for 8 days, removed, put in a water bath and heated at 70°C for 10 min they become transparent, their hardness and penetration increasing with storage. Total bacterial count and volatile basic nitrogen also increase with storage. The total bacterial count and the volatile basic nitrogen were 4·6 × 10⁶ cfu g^?1, 0·32 mg g^?1 when stored at a temperature of under 25°C for 4 weeks, respectively.     

A comparative study of polyphenoloxidases from taro (Colocasia esculenta) and potato (Solanum tuberosum var. Romano)

Taro (C. esculenta) is a staple food in many tropical regions. A comparative study of crude polyphenoloxidases from taro (tPPO) and potatoes (pPPO) was carried out to provide information useful for guiding food processing operations. Crude PPO was prepared by cold acetone precipitation using ascorbic acid as antioxidant. The PPO content of taro acetone powder was 770±17 units (mg protein)⁻¹ as compared with 3848±180 units (mg protein)⁻¹ in potato acetone powder. The pH-activity optimum was pH 4.6 for tPPO and pH 6.8 for pPPO. Both enzymes retained >80% activity after incubation at pH 4.5–8 but there was rapid activity loss at pH < 4. The temperature-activity optimum (T_opt) was 30°C for tPPO and 25°C for pPPO with 75 and 27% of their respective maximum activity retained at 60°C. Both tPPO and pPPO were irreversibly inactivated by 10 min heating at 70°C. The activation enthalpy (ΔH^#) and activation entropy (ΔS^#) for tPPO heat-inactivation were 87.4 (±0.1) kJ mol⁻¹ and −56.2 (±4) J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. For pPPO, ΔH^# was 59.1 (±0.1) kJ mol⁻¹ whilst ΔS^# was −141 (±4) J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. The apparent substrate specificity was established from values V_max/K_m as: 4-methylcatechol>chlorogenic acid>dl-dopa>catechol>pyrogallol> dopamine>>caffeic acid for tPPO. There was no detectable activity towards caffeic acid. The substrate specificity for pPPO was: 4-methylcatechol>caffeic acid>pyrogallol>catechol>chlorogenic acid >dl-dopa>dopamine. According to the order of inhibitor effectiveness (sodium metabisulphite>ascorbic acid>NaCl≈ (EDTA), there was a significant lag-phase before increases occurred in the absorbance at 420 nm. Preincubation of PPO with inhibitors increased the extent of inhibition, indicating a direct effect on the structure of the enzyme.     

Influence of the Heating Rate on the Pasting Properties of Various Flours

Viscoamylographic tests were carried out on six commercial flour samples, three wheat flours (WF), two semolinas (S) and one rice flour (RF), using the Brabender Micro Visco‐Amylo‐Graph (MVA). The slurries were subjected to a definite temperature profile (30°C‐95°C, 95°C×30 min, 95°C‐50°C, 50°C×30 min), stirring at 250 min⁻¹ and using a 300 cm·g_f cartridge and recording the viscosity (in Brabender Units, BU) as a function of temperature and time. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of different heating rates (1.5, 3.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0°C/min) on the pasting properties of the various flours. The peak viscosity of WFs and Ss increased when high heating rates were applied, while the RF showed similar pasting properties independently of the heating rate. These behaviours were mainly ascribed to the different molecular organisation of the starch granules, responsible of different swelling and gelatinising extents, and also to a different kinetic of alpha‐amylase inactivation according to the heating rate applied. The key role of the alpha‐amylase activity in controlling the pasting viscosity of the different samples was demonstrated by the viscoamylographic test performed in the presence of silver nitrate as enzyme inhibitor.     

Urea and Heat Unfolding of Cold-Adapted Atlantic Cod(Gadusmorhua)Trypsin and Bovine Trypsin

The reversible unfolding reactions for phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF)-modified trypins from Atlantic cod (cod PMS-trypsin) and cattle (bovine PMS-trypsin) were monitored by fluorescence spectrophotometry as a function of urea concentration and temperature. For urea unfolding at 25°C, the free energy change at zero concentration of urea (ΔG(H₂O)) for cod PMS-trypsin was 11(±4·4) kJ mol⁻¹ compared with 18(±1·14) kJ mol⁻¹ for bovine PMS-trypsin, while the mid-point concentration for urea unfolding curve ([urea]_1/2) was 3·0(±0·57) M and 4·1(±0·16) M, respectively. From studies of enzyme heat unfolding, the mid point temperature of the thermal unfolding curve ( T _m ) was 46(±1·4)°C for cod PMS-trypsin compared with 57(±2)°C for bovine PMS-trypsin. The standard free energy change (Δ G° ) for reversible thermal unfolding of cod PMS-trypsin was 9(±1) kJ mol⁻¹ compared with 19(±1) kJ mol⁻¹ for bovine PMS-trypsin. Values for the enthalpy (Δ H _m ), entropy (Δ S _m ) and heat capacity (Δ C _p ) for heat unfolding are compared. Results from urea and thermal unfolding studies show that cod PMS-trypsin has a significantly lower conformational stability than bovine PMS-trypsin.     

Thermal Resistance of Bacillus coagulans in Double Concentrated Tomato Paste

Thermal resistance was determined on a strain of Bacillus coagulans in double concentrated tomato paste (a_w= 0.95 at 23°C, pH = 4.0, 30.3°Brix, 70.1% moisture and acidity 1.30 g/100g citric acid. A microsyringe method was used with an inoculum of 1.3 × 10⁴ spores/ mL. Values of D_90°c= 3.5 min and z = 9.5C° were obtained.